National Framework for the supply of nursing staff is live

Today (14.5.14) sees the culmination of six months of collaboration between four NHS collaborative procurement hubs to jointly procure a new national nursing agency framework for the NHS and other public sector organisations.

NHS Commercial Solutions, NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative (‘NOE CPC’), East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub and NHS London Procurement Partnership (‘LPP’), agreed to actively develop a framework agreement - the National Framework Agreement for the Supply of Nursing and Nursing-related Staff has now gone live, and will run from 14th May 2014 for an initial period of two years, plus two optional one-year extension periods. It is open to the NHS and other public bodies.

Although a national framework, it consists of four regional lots to allow for differing market conditions in each region, and each lot will be open to the NHS and other public bodies in that particular region. In addition, Lot 5 allows for international recruitment of staff.

Alyson Brett, Chief Executive of NHS Commercial Solutions highlighted at the outset of the collaboration, “Our members need a nursing agency framework which meets their needs. Above all, trusts need to be confident that they are employing high quality agency nurses who will provide the best care for patients."

Led by LPP workstream lead Richard Humble and Senior Category Manager Laura Whitworth, the framework includes a transparent pricing mechanism, regular auditing of agencies providing NHS staff, and ensures a recruitment process which is fully compliant with UK and EU legislation.

David John, Chief Executive of the East of England hub, speaking back in October said, “We’re taking the collaboration we each do in our own organisations to the next level. There is a national need for a fit for purpose nursing framework." Keith Rowley, NOE CPC Managing Director, added that "working together should be beneficial to the members of our four organisations, whilst also demonstrating good practice for NHS procurement".